LONDON & KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cell Therapy Catapult, which is focused on the development of the UK cell therapy industry to increase the nation's health and wealth, has signed a patent licence agreement with iPS Academia Japan, which represents a pivotal step in the development of the UK's GMP induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell bank.
Under the agreement, the Cell Therapy Catapult is permitted to sub-licence, manufacture and commercialise iPS cell lines for use in early-stage research and clinical trials. With iPS cells gaining in importance as a source of new therapies and the first products in clinical trials, the cell bank is of strategic importance to the UK cell therapy community.
Under the terms of the agreement with iPS Academia Japan, which is worldwide and non-exclusive, the Cell Therapy Catapult is able to create, sell and distribute iPS cell lines for research and clinical use (including its own). Any organisation undertaking clinical research or commercial use based on the cell lines will need an additional sub-licence, for which not-for-profit organisations, charities and universities will not be required to pay fees as far as their activities are for non-commercial purposes. Establishment of the cell bank was announced in 2013 with an initial investment of £2m.
Keith Thompson, CEO of the Cell Therapy Catapult, said: “The licence agreement with iPS Academia Japan, without which we would not have been able to manufacture or make the iPS cells available, is a significant step in the establishment of this high quality, GMP grade cell bank. In addition, it brings us a valuable partner in Japan where so much exciting cell therapy research is being done. Initial iPS cell lines are expected to be available to researchers this year, providing an important tool and growth driver for the UK cell therapy industry.”
Mitsuomi Shirahashi, President & CEO of iPS Academia Japan, said: “We are very pleased and highly honored that iPS cell technologies of Dr Yamanaka has been licensed to the Cell Therapy Catapult, a recognised leader in UK for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. We hope our licence can contribute to health and welfare in the UK, Europe and eventually worldwide by bringing things a step further.”
iPS cells were first published by Dr Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University, Japan, in 2006, leading to the award with Professor Sir John Gurdon of the 2012 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine. The discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed into other cell types opens up the treatment of a large range of diseases. In order to harness the potential of this technology, iPS Academia Japan was established in 2008 to manage patents and patent applications relating to stem cells, mainly iPS cells, under a licence granted by Kyoto University.
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Notes to Editors
About the Cell Therapy Catapult
The Cell Therapy Catapult is a centre of translational excellence for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Its vision is for the UK to be a global leader in the development, delivery and commercialisation of cell therapy, making it a location for business start-up and growth. Based in London at Guy's Hospital, the centre takes products into early clinical trials, providing clinical, technical, manufacturing and regulatory expertise and access to the NHS. There is a focus on collaboration and lowering barriers to investment and funding, and operations have grown rapidly since inception. UK Trade & Investment has valued the global regenerative medicine industry at just over £500 million, and estimates that it will be generating revenues of over £5 billion by 2021. For more information go to ct.catapult.org.uk
About Catapults
Catapult centres are being established and overseen by Innovate UK as a new addition to its range of programmes to stimulate innovation. They are places where the best of the UK’s innovative businesses and researchers work together to bring new products and services more quickly to commercialisation. Focusing on areas with great market potential, Catapults will open up global opportunities for the UK and generate economic growth for the future. For more information, please visit www.catapult.org.uk
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK is the new name for the Technology Strategy Board – the UK’s innovation agency. Taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK funds, supports and connects innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth. For further information visit www.innovateuk.org
About iPS Academia Japan
Founded in 2008, iPS Academia Japan, Inc. (AJ) is an affiliate of Kyoto University, being committed to licensing the iPS cell-related patent portfolio mainly from Kyoto University and other universities as well so that the research results could contribute to health and welfare worldwide. AJ’s patent portfolio consists of approximately 90 patent families (the total of more than 300 patent applications) as of January 2015, and more than 140 licence agreements have been concluded worldwide. For further information visit www.ips-cell.net
